Gratitude List

In no order at all, I have soooo much to be grateful for. I feel compelled to right them out.

1. I am grateful for amazing clients. They work so hard and bring me so much joy, especially as they see the difference our trainings make in their lives. I have a 74 year old woman who can do 15 full range pushups on her toes and a woman who can balance herself on two stability balls. A woman who just got off Blood Pressure meds and has inspired her husband to begin a workout program, and the list goes on.

2. I am grateful for my other job, Group Exercise Instructor.  I would never push myself the way I do or workout as frequent if I didn't "have to show up". I've NEVR felt stronger, both in my muscles and my cardiovascular system. I have sooo much energy, because of the awesome programs I get to teach.

3. I am grateful for my new calling of Stake Relief Society Secretary. My desire to learn has increased so much. I feel like I can't get enough knowledge and I want to read so many books and words of the current prophets and leaders.

4. I am extremely grateful for HEALTH. So many families are going through heartbreaking situations as their family members suffer. We haven't had a sick visit in years.

5. I am thankful for all mu family: individual family, the family I came from, the family I married into, and my extended family. So many amazing people who love and support me.

6. Grateful for a husband with good work ethic and who is also a wonderful daddy to my kids.

7. Grateful for my macbook pro, best investment of the year. Last year's best investment was my GVP straight iron.

8. Grateful to live in a safe city. Grateful to live in a wonderful country.

9. Grateful for Fresh & Easy Market.  Lots of coupons to save big on groceries and awesome meal planning to save me tons of time on cooking.

10. Grateful for ice cream, it's a household favorite

11. And I also love my vegetables. My parents are amazed. I didn't eat a single vegetable until I hit 18, and now I can't get enough of them, yum, yum, yum.

12. Grateful to not have any addictions.

13. Grateful for MINT lifesavers, long story, but they literally save my life every night. I wouldn't get any sleep without them, which leads to #14

14. I love sleep. I love that I can fall asleep easily!!!

15. Grateful for good friends.

16. Grateful for good books. I don't read much, about a chapter a day is all, but reading sure gives me a brighter perspective on life. I've got it pretty good compared to the heart wrenching stories I have read.

17. And while I am onto media, glad to have a few good TV shows that give me a good laugh. Laughter is always good medicine.

18. So happy to finally have all four of us in a 16x20 frame on my wall. (we only had 3 of us for way too long). I smile every time I see my family, I love photographs of them.

19. Grateful Buddy (elf on the shelf) has come to visit for the season. He works his magic very nicely.

20. Grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ.

ok, I'm starting to get tired, so maybe I will add to the list tomorrow.

ashley

Kennedee....................and my latest read

Got the school photos back.   I can't stand the blue background, same thing as when I was in Kindergarten. I guess it will remain a classic look. I'd rather photograph my kids outdoors in natural light. Hey, it turned out pretty cute though.

Thanksgiving according to Kennedee and recorded by her Kindergarten teacher:

"For Thanksgiving we're having turkey! We get it at the store-I don't know which one. It costs $50 and is weighs 6 pounds. We cook it in the oven at 5 hot for 1 hour. We eat steak to go with it. Rice too! For dessert we'll have cake and ice cream. We like chocolate! My favorite part of the turkey is the bottom of the turkey, 'cuz I know it's good. I'm thankful for hot dogs and yogurt!"





Latest read:

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

After some of the heavier topics I have been reading, it was nice to read something a little lighter.  Most books start slow, setting the premise. Then they build, get exciting into the climax and then have a happily ever after.  This book was different. The story got going right from the beginning with a mix of tears and laughter and continued through out the book. There really wasn't a big climax. But the story of Cecilia Honeycutt is charming, as she slowly learns to overcome her past and meets new friends along the way.  Good read.

"Momma's a DIRTY GIRL"

Literally a DIRTY GIRL.

My friend Dawn's husband found out about this event and told her she should recruit some girls and make a team.  Well we signed up for it one day before the event. And Dawn, Lisa, and Megan quickly went out and bought material to make us team shirts,etc.  Some of the registration cost go towards the National Breast Cancer Association, so most team names referenced "the girls".  Hence the "Udders"

THE BEFORE:  nice and clean

THE STARTING LINE:  getting our party on

THE OBSTACLES:  there were twelve obstacles including

water pit

blow-up climb-and-slide

hay bale climb

army crawl under net

under-and-over the ropes

wall climb

rope hill climb

tunnel crawl

net climb

muddy bubble hill

the running in between obstacles (Michelle and ME)

Megan, Lisa, and Dawn

and lots and lots of mud EVERYWHERE during the course.

THE AFTER:  the finish line

this is right before we fell backwards and back into the mud pit

DIRTY DIRTY

The best part was having our cheer squad. All of our husbands and kids came to cheer us on. The kids had a blast seeing there moms get all muddy.  Tay kept saying, "Momma's DIR---TEE". 

Hoping to recruit some more fine ladies for next year....................................

TRICK-OR-TREAT !!

Once again I left it to Grandma to capture all the pics of the night. (I'm so terrible at never taking my camera anywhere). Thanks Grammy. 

I figured that in having girls, every Halloween would be a big princess-fest.  I love that Kennedee wants to get in with the spookier side of Halloween. Last year she asked to be a witch and this year she wanted to be a vampire (with blood and everything).

We are lucky to have had a special witch visit us this Haloween. Witch Gramma Grant (Ryan's Grandma).

And Tay was Minnie Mouse by default because that was Kennedee's hand-me-down at that age.  But she loved it.  Trick-or-treating has worked out great in the last 2 years, because she stays right in her stroller the WHOLE time.

TRICK- OR- TREAT!!!!!